The Rangers' Debt To Scottish And Foreign Clubs Has Become A Controversial Issue

Austrian football club Rapid Vienna has "voiced concerns" over Rangers agreeing to settle football debts to Scottish clubs while they "have yet to receive any indication they will be paid the £1M ($1.6M) they are owed from the sale of Nikica Jelavic to Ibrox two years ago," according to Phil Gordon of the HERALD SCOTLAND. Rapid still awaits "clarification on the money they are seeking" after selling Jelavic to Rangers two years ago for £4M ($6.3M). The Austrians "have raised the issue with FIFA" following reports that Rangers were settling the football debts of the oldco, but noted that Green "has not clarified the status of foreign and English creditors." Rangers have 15 days to pay Rapid or face potential punishment from FIFA. Other European and English clubs that are owed money by Rangers include French side St. Etienne (£252,212.39/$396,931); Chelsea (£238,345.01/$375,107); Arsenal (£136,560/$214,918); Manchester City (£328,248/$516,596); Palermo in Italy (£205,513.04/$323,436) and Orebro in Sweden (£150,000/$236,069) (HERALD SCOTLAND, 8/16). In Glasgow, James Traynor reported that Rangers "continued to insist they had paid their Scottish football dues and their row with the Scottish Premier League is now likely to be kicked up to the Scottish Football Association for a ruling." The Ibrox club themselves "have had to wait for the SFA to release" £800,000 ($1.26M) owed to them. That money was sent to Scottish football's governing body from Southampton via their own association as payment for the transfer of Steve Davis. Rangers insist the SPL agreed they would pay and have a letter, dated May 18, which states the debt would be taken out of SPL money owed to them. The SPL "will argue the letter is no longer relevant" because it was sent to the business, which went into liquidation and United's debt should be paid by the newco (DAILY RECORD, 8/16).